New resolution on Iranian nuke issue meets our requirement: Lavr

Moscow, Dec 19 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today expressed the hope that UN Security Council will adopt the new draft resolution on Iran, which took into account most of Russia's suggestions.

''The new draft resolution, which has been drawn up by the European troika (Britain, France and Germany) and is now being debated within the UN Security Council, takes most of our approaches into consideration,'' Mr Lavrov told Interfax news agency.

''The draft resolution focuses on spheres of nuclear activities that provoke concern in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). I mean uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing and heavy water programmes, as well as restrictions on the export of goods and technologies to Iran that are related to the creation of means of nuclear weapons delivery,'' he said.

''We hope that this foundation will allow the UN Security Council to reach a consensus that would persuade the Iranians to sit down at the negotiating table and would ensure vigorous and comprehensive cooperation with the IAEA on all remaining issues dealing with Iran's nuclear activities,'' the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Mr Lavrov discussed over telephone last night with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice certain amendments to the draft resolution on the Iranian nuclear programme, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

''The sides discussed progress on a draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear programme and some aspects of Russian-US relations,'' the statement said.

UNI XC SI VD KN1652